Predatory dominance and aggressive display under imipramine treatment in cats.

The effect of imipramine treatment on the aggressive display and predatory dominance was tested in 16 male cats yoked in 8 pairs. Imipramine applied chronically during 3 weeks in submissive cats produced a tendency to compete with the dominant cat in a predatory situation and an accompanying enhancement of aggressive display. Some of the treated cats gained the predatory dominance over previously dominant partners. The level of aggressiveness was not, however, directly related with the process of gaining dominance. Therefore it was concluded that imipramine enhances some mechanisms involved in dominance, not limited to aggression.